Straight off the back of Silverstone last weekend, we enter the second half of the Formula 2 season this weekend at the picturesque Austrian track that is the Red Bull Ring. Championship leader Felipe Drugovich has some history here, and F1 Feeder Series, along with selected media, spoke to him about his ‘special’ connection to the circuit.

By Tyler Foster

Drugovich is Brazilian, but he has Austrian as well as Italian heritage. Interestingly, he made his début in Formula 2 at the Red Bull Ring back in July 2020 and won the Sprint Race in just the second F2 race of his career.

‘The place is really cool’

At a media session on Thursday, F1 Feeder Series asked Drugovich whether he has any special feeling about this weekend because of his Austrian family links.

“It does make it quite special for me but not really because of that. I think more because I really like the place. I think the place is really cool. I really like the nature here and the surroundings – also because I got my first win here, so that makes it really special. A little bit because of the heritage too, but in the end, I consider myself fully Brazilian.”

The Spielberg circuit’s unique location and remote backdrop make it one of the most beautiful tracks in the world. While Drugovich has happy memories of the circuit, he will have to think back to remember them, as his last visit to the Red Bull Ring was for the first two weekends of his rookie season. In comparison, drivers on the F2 grid this year who competed in F3 last year will have more recent memories of the Red Bull Ring, as the circuit was a part of their 2021 calendar.

Does age matter?

Drugovich’s main title rival is the Sauber Academy’s teenage prospect Théo Pourchaire. He is a sizeable margin behind the Brazilian as of now, but looking ahead to the future of their respective careers, it seems that Pourchaire, who turns 19 next month, has time on his side, being more than three years younger than Drugovich.

Drugovich, who turned 22 years old in May, won three races as a rookie in F2 at the age of 20. We also asked the MP Motorsport driver whether he felt that his age was a factor in his lack of affiliation with a Formula 1 junior team.

“About F1 junior racing teams, it’s kind of been my choice to be completely free from them until now. That has been a good thing. Being in my position right now, I can keep doing what I’m doing now. I’m totally free to choose where I can go, depending on the opportunities,” Drugovich explained.

“I have nothing to say about the age difference thing. At his age, 19 years old turning to 20, I was in F2 already winning races. I think I’ve shown my potential since then, so I’ve not got a problem with age.”

Pourchaire’s younger age may make him more attractive to F1 teams, but it is clear that Drugovich’s extra year of experience in F2 has boosted his racecraft and understanding of the series’ different variables, making him such a well-rounded driver at this point in his career.

Header photo credit: Formula Motorsport Limited